Photos
Sacred Dancers of Angkor in Meak Bochhea celebration
by Anders Jiras & NKFC Cambodia
Sacred Dancers of Angkor - 20 Years of Art and Devotion
by NKFC Cambodia
20 years of dedication to cultural heritage preservation and the timeless art of Khmer dance.
Khmer New Year 2026 (BE 2570)
Khmer New Year 2026 (BE 2570) សួស្ដីឆ្នាំថ្មី ឆ្នាំមមី អដ្ឋស័ក ពុទ្ធសករាជ ២៥៧០ | Video 8:31 min. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Meak Bochea Procession (Feb. 2026)
Lord Buddha 1250 Candle Procession on Meak Bochea, in front of Preah Enkosei Pagoda and Temple, Siem Reap. ពិធីបូជាទៀនចំនួន ពិធីបូជាទៀនចំនួន ១២៥០ ដើម នៅវត្តព្រះឥន្ទ្រាគយ | Video 11 min, 2 Feb. 2026.
Tribute to HM Queen Monineath on Her 90th Birthday (2026)
Invocation “Om Sri Raja Rajeshwari Namaha” for the bestowing of Divine Protection to HM Queen Monineath, followed by creative choreography on the music scores of three songs dedicated to Her by the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk :
- dance with 90 candles under 90 banian leaves on “Le soir où je t’ai rencontrée”;
- dance on “Monica” under a ring of 90 lotus flowers representing “the garden of my heart”;
dance in red (symbol of love) and pink (unconditional love) costumes on “Rose de Phnom Penh”. | Video 18:16 min. on 18 June 2026, the Queen's birthday. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Buon Suong to Fallen Soldiers 2025
Prayer ceremony for the souls of the heroic Khmer soldiers who sacrificed their lives in battle for protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity. សូមបួងសួងឧទ្ទិសបុណ្យកុសល ដល់ដួងព្រលឹងវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរះកងទ័ពខ្មែរ ដែលបានពលីជីវិតក្នុងសមរភូមិ ក្នុងបុព្វហេតុការពារអធិបតេយ្យជាតិនិងបូរណះភាពទឹកដី។ | Video 10:14 min, 8 Sept. 2018. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Dance Prayer in Siem Reap (2025)
Prayer dance ceremony for the Armed Forces and the return of peace in the Royal Residence Gardens, Siem Reap. ពិធីបួងសួងដ៏ស្មោះស្ម័គ្រ និងជ្រាលជ្រៅដល់វិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធរបស់លោកមេទ័ពទាំង ១២ ដ៏ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់នៅមុខព្រះរាជដំណាក់ខេត្តសៀមរាប | Video 15 min., Sept. 2025. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Khmer New Year 2025 (BE 2569)
The arrival of Tevoda Koreak Tevi, the tutelar devi of Khmer New Year 2025 (BE 2569). ចូលឆ្នាំថ្មីខ្មែរ ២៥៦៩ | Video 8 min. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Buon Suong in memory of HE Kong Sam Ol (2024)
100-day mourning Buon Suong for the passing of HE Kong Sam Ol, Minister of the Royal Palace. | Video 10 min., 8 Dec. 2024.
Sacred Dancers of Angkor - Rehearsal (2026)
Rehearsal with dedicated teachers. | Video by Phum Huyteh Art Group ក្រុមសិល្បះ ភូមិហុយៗ, July 2026.
Three Rituals on Water Festival, Kulen and Angkor (2014)
Three Rituals for the 12th full moon of the year at Kulen Mountain and Angkor Wat. | Video 48 min, 6 November 2014.
in "Ramayana, A Shared Culture" (2017)
Sacred Dancers featured in Benoy K. Behl's film Ramayana, A Shared Culture (2017) | Video 27 min, dist. Indian Diplomacy.
Sdahm sihamoni recovery 2026
Pious Meditation for HM King Sihamoni successful operation and full recovery, with the Medicine Buddha Mantra chanted by Tibetan monks at Labrang Monastery. | Video 10 min, 20 April 2026. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
For earthquake victims in Myanmar and Thailand (2025)
Reciting and dancing the Universal Healing Mantra in remembrance and support to the earthquake victims in Myanmar and Thailand. | Video 15:30 min., April 2025. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Honoring Japan - Sakura Dance (2018)
Sacred Dancers of Angkor version of Sakura dance, the traditional Japanese spring folk dance celebrating cherry blossoms. | Video 13:29 min, April 2018. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
In Memoriam Pope Francis (2025)
Chanting of the Litany of the Saints in memoriam Pope Francis (1936-2-25). | Video 12:11 min, 13 May 2025. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
- Author
- NKFC Cambodia
- Published
- 2026
Established in 2007 near Banteay Srei Temple, the Khmer classical dance Conservatoire in Chhouk Sar commune houses Sacred Dancers of Angkor, the dance company founded and directed by Ravynn Karet-Coxen, under the patronage of late HRH Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (8 Jan. 1943 — 18 Nov. 2019).
Deeply rooted in ancient tradition — the Conservatoire is located in a ‘sacred triangle’ tipped by Banteay Srei Monastery វត្តសិលាចារបន្ទាយស្រី, the Kbal Spean ក្បាលស្ពាន site and Prasat Phnom Dei ប្រាសាទភ្នំដី -, the area inspired a vocational, educational and spiritual push instigated by the Nginn Karet Foundation for Cambodia (NKFC) at the turn of the century.
The originality of Sacred Dancers was to train the daughters of modest farmers into the classic repertoire perpetuated by the Royal Ballet of Cambodia without mimicking the style of typical Khmer court dance, with its richly embroidered costumes and codified aesthetics. Dedication to the spirits of dance was to be naturally reflected by girls and young women encouraged to find spiritual self-fulfillement in harmony with their environment. Dancers and musicians blossomed in their local context, combining respect for their cultural heritage, meditation and heartfelt prayers, a growing sense of contentment with the world and its beauty.
With its rare integration of devotion and even mysticism into the dance art form, Sacred Dancers has explored the time-honored quest for physical expressivity and mental focusing. Pursuing utmost sincerity and committment never led teachers and students to entrench themselves far away from the real world. In the span of these two decades, the dance company has held weekly performances at Divine Sala, Ravynn’s traditional wooden house by the river, special functions at hotels and private celebrations (birthdays, engagement or wedding parties), and Buon Suong (Temple Blessing) at several ancient sites in the Angkor Area. Offerings and prayers to the spirits of Angkor in order to obtain the blessing to use the sacred grounds as an entertainment venue preluded each one of the latter events, and the events were devoid of any food or drink serving.
Cambodian Celebrations & Rehearsals
Invocation “Om Sri Raja Rajeshwari Namaha” for the bestowing of Divine Protection to HM Queen Monineath, followed by creative choreography on the music scores of three songs dedicated to Her by the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk :
- dance with 90 candles under 90 banian leaves on “Le soir où je t’ai rencontrée”;
- dance on “Monica” under a ring of 90 lotus flowers representing “the garden of my heart”;
dance in red (symbol of love) and pink (unconditional love) costumes on “Rose de Phnom Penh”. | Video 18:16 min. on 18 June 2026, the Queen’s birthday. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Invocation “Om Sri Raja Rajeshwari Namaha” for the bestowing of Divine Protection to HM Queen Monineath, followed by creative choreography on the music scores of three songs dedicated to Her by the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk :
- dance with 90 candles under 90 banian leaves on “Le soir où je t’ai rencontrée”;
- dance on “Monica” under a ring of 90 lotus flowers representing “the garden of my heart”;
dance in red (symbol of love) and pink (unconditional love) costumes on “Rose de Phnom Penh”. | Video 18:16 min. on 18 June 2026, the Queen’s birthday. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Khmer New Year 2026 (BE 2570) សួស្ដីឆ្នាំថ្មី ឆ្នាំមមី អដ្ឋស័ក ពុទ្ធសករាជ ២៥៧០ | Video 8:31 min. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Khmer New Year 2026 (BE 2570) សួស្ដីឆ្នាំថ្មី ឆ្នាំមមី អដ្ឋស័ក ពុទ្ធសករាជ ២៥៧០ | Video 8:31 min. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Lord Buddha 1250 Candle Procession on Meak Bochea, in front of Preah Enkosei Pagoda and Temple, Siem Reap. ពិធីបូជាទៀនចំនួន ពិធីបូជាទៀនចំនួន ១២៥០ ដើម នៅវត្តព្រះឥន្ទ្រាគយ | Video 11 min, 2 Feb. 2026.
Lord Buddha 1250 Candle Procession on Meak Bochea, in front of Preah Enkosei Pagoda and Temple, Siem Reap. ពិធីបូជាទៀនចំនួន ពិធីបូជាទៀនចំនួន ១២៥០ ដើម នៅវត្តព្រះឥន្ទ្រាគយ | Video 11 min, 2 Feb. 2026.
Prayer ceremony for the souls of the heroic Khmer soldiers who sacrificed their lives in battle for protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity. សូមបួងសួងឧទ្ទិសបុណ្យកុសល ដល់ដួងព្រលឹងវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរះកងទ័ពខ្មែរ ដែលបានពលីជីវិតក្នុងសមរភូមិ ក្នុងបុព្វហេតុការពារអធិបតេយ្យជាតិនិងបូរណះភាពទឹកដី។ | Video 10:14 min, 8 Sept. 2018. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Prayer ceremony for the souls of the heroic Khmer soldiers who sacrificed their lives in battle for protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity. សូមបួងសួងឧទ្ទិសបុណ្យកុសល ដល់ដួងព្រលឹងវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរះកងទ័ពខ្មែរ ដែលបានពលីជីវិតក្នុងសមរភូមិ ក្នុងបុព្វហេតុការពារអធិបតេយ្យជាតិនិងបូរណះភាពទឹកដី។ | Video 10:14 min, 8 Sept. 2018. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Prayer dance ceremony for the Armed Forces and the return of peace in the Royal Residence Gardens, Siem Reap. ពិធីបួងសួងដ៏ស្មោះស្ម័គ្រ និងជ្រាលជ្រៅដល់វិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធរបស់លោកមេទ័ពទាំង ១២ ដ៏ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់នៅមុខព្រះរាជដំណាក់ខេត្តសៀមរាប | Video 15 min., Sept. 2025. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Prayer dance ceremony for the Armed Forces and the return of peace in the Royal Residence Gardens, Siem Reap. ពិធីបួងសួងដ៏ស្មោះស្ម័គ្រ និងជ្រាលជ្រៅដល់វិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធរបស់លោកមេទ័ពទាំង ១២ ដ៏ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់នៅមុខព្រះរាជដំណាក់ខេត្តសៀមរាប | Video 15 min., Sept. 2025. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
The arrival of Tevoda Koreak Tevi, the tutelar devi of Khmer New Year 2025 (BE 2569). ចូលឆ្នាំថ្មីខ្មែរ ២៥៦៩ | Video 8 min. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
The arrival of Tevoda Koreak Tevi, the tutelar devi of Khmer New Year 2025 (BE 2569). ចូលឆ្នាំថ្មីខ្មែរ ២៥៦៩ | Video 8 min. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
100-day mourning Buon Suong for the passing of HE Kong Sam Ol, Minister of the Royal Palace. | Video 10 min., 8 Dec. 2024.
100-day mourning Buon Suong for the passing of HE Kong Sam Ol, Minister of the Royal Palace. | Video 10 min., 8 Dec. 2024.
Rehearsal with dedicated teachers. | Video by Phum Huyteh Art Group ក្រុមសិល្បះ ភូមិហុយៗ, July 2026.
Rehearsal with dedicated teachers. | Video by Phum Huyteh Art Group ក្រុមសិល្បះ ភូមិហុយៗ, July 2026.
Three Rituals for the 12th full moon of the year at Kulen Mountain and Angkor Wat. | Video 48 min, 6 November 2014.
Three Rituals for the 12th full moon of the year at Kbal Spean, Kulen Mountain and Angkor Wat. | Video 48 min, 6 November 2014.
On 6 November 2014, Sacred Dancers of Angkor dedicated three rituals on the 12th Full Moon of Lunar Calendar Year [Water Festival]:
- early afternoon at Kbal Spean ក្បាលស្ពាន [River of a Thousand Lingas], celebrating the spiritual energy of the sacred water flooding the Plains of Cambodia with Prosperity, Good Health, Happiness and Peace, and collecting Lustral Water;
- later in the afternoon at Kruh Preah Aram Rong Chen បា្រសាទរោងចិន, the first Pyramid Temple on top of Kulen Mountain, Consecration Ritual to King Jayavarman II Deva Raja, the Spirits of all Angkorian/ Khmer Kings and Preah Karuna Preah Norodom Sihanouk Preah Borom Rattanakkot Supplication Calling all the Gods to Bless the Crown, the Royal Government and all the 25 Provinces with the release of the 25 nominal Sky Lanterns;
- at Midnight on Angkor Wat moat bridge, Dedication to Lord Vishnu, Observation of the Eight Silas — Precepts -, Dedication to Lord Buddha in His Reincarnation as a Rabbit, Rituals of the 25 Candles representing each of the 25 Provinces, Ceremony of Sampeah Preah Khe, Ceremony of Floating 25 Candles, Offerings “Banhea Preah Kantong” for Good Fortune in the 25 Provinces, followed with Ork Ambok or Pounding of the New Rice, with the Brahmanist/Buddhist Rites to Bless the Harvest.
Film ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Intercultural Performances & Commemorations
Pious Meditation for HM King Sihamoni successful operation and full recovery, with the Medicine Buddha Mantra chanted by Tibetan monks at Labrang Monastery. | Video 10 min, 20 April 2026. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Pious Meditation for HM King Sihamoni successful operation and full recovery, with the Medicine Buddha Mantra chanted by Tibetan monks at Labrang Monastery. | Video 10 min, 20 April 2026. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
“La Ballade à Angkor des paons célestes” [“Celestial Peacocks Strolling at Angkor”], by Sacred Dancers of Angkor, opening the Siem Reap Culture Festival 2025. Choreography and Costumes by Kantharavynn Nginn Karet. Music by W.A. Mozart: Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra in C Major, K.299 — Andantino. | Video 12 min, 22 March 2025.
“La Ballade à Angkor des paons célestes” [“Celestial Peacocks Strolling at Angkor”], by Sacred Dancers of Angkor, opening the Siem Reap Culture Festival 2025. Choreography and Costumes by Kantharavynn Nginn Karet. Music by W.A. Mozart: Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra in C Major, K.299 — Andantino. | Video 12 min, 22 March 2025.
Reciting and dancing the Universal Healing Mantra in remembrance and support to the earthquake victims in Myanmar and Thailand. | Video 15:30 min., April 2025. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Reciting and dancing the Universal Healing Mantra in remembrance and support to the earthquake victims in Myanmar and Thailand. | Video 15:30 min., April 2025. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Chanting of the Litany of the Saints in memoriam Pope Francis (1936−2−25). | Video 12:11 min, 13 May 2025. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Chanting of the Litany of the Saints in memoriam Pope Francis (1936−2−25). | Video 12:11 min, 13 May 2025. ©Sacred Dancers of Angkor.
Sacred Dancers featured in Benoy K. Behl’s film Ramayana, A Shared Culture (2017) | Video 27 min, dist. Indian Diplomacy.
Sacred Dancers featured in Benoy K. Behl’s film Ramayana, A Shared Culture (2017) | Video 27 min, dist. Indian Diplomacy.
Temple Blessing
under construction
Curated collection proudly developed and hosted by Angkor Database, with warm thanks to Ravynn Karet-Coxen, the teachers, dancers and musicians of Sacred Dancers of Angkor. Currently under construction, come back often to this page for updates. | Entry photo by Anders Jiras, 2017.
Tags: dance, Khmer dance, dancers, women, Banteay Srei, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, celebrations, cultural tourism
About the Author
NKFC Cambodia
The Nginn Karet Foundation for Cambodia (NKFC) is a private initiative set since 2001 to empower village people in Cambodia with the knowledge and resources to secure their basic needs through a partnership programme for a sustainable future, and to help younger generations of villagers in accessing and nurturing their cultural heritage.
Since 2007, a Khmer classical dance conservatoire was established in Chhouk Sar commune, in the vicinity of Banteay Srei temple, housing Sacred Dancers of Angkor, the dance company founded and directed by Ravynn Karet-Coxen, under the patronage of HRH Princess Norodom Buppha Devi.
NKFC Cambodia has held numerous fundraising initiatives in the UK, the US, France and Cambodia in order to support its initiatives in Siem Reap area.
Glossary Terms
Meak Bochea, Magha Puja
pl magha puja "great festival" | kh មាឃបូជា makha bucha "celebration of Makha month".
Magha Puja [or Sangha Day] is a major Buddhist festival occurring usually in May commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha.
In Theravada Buddhism tradition (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka), Meak Bochea is celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month (Meak), the second most important festival after Vesak, which marks the start of the monsoon season retreat. It celebrates the spontaneous gathering between the Buddha and 1,250 of his first disciples (Arahants), preceding the custom of periodic recitation of the 227 rules of monastic discipline, Pāṭimokkha.
It Northern India and Nepal, it is associated with Jestha Purnima, one of the traditional festivals of the Magars, a native Tibeto-Burman ethnic group.
